Council keeps millage rate unchanged and schedules budget public hearings

The Perry City Council voted July 22 to set the proposed millage rate for fiscal year 2025–26 at 5.8336, the same rate used in the prior year, and agreed to schedule two public hearings and a budget workshop ahead of final adoption. City staff presented three millage options: the prior year rate (5.8336), the rollback rate (5.8188) and the maximum rate (6.4272). City manager staff recommended keeping the millage unchanged; council voted to adopt the prior-year rate on a recorded vote (one council member voted no). Staff explained that the prior-year rate would bring in roughly $2.15 million and that keeping the rate provides flexibility to reduce later if necessary, noting the property-appraiser’s values and TRIM process affect final receipts. Council also set public hearing dates required for adopting the millage and budget. The council agreed to hold hearings in September—one to follow a regular meeting and one on the 30th (the transcript records matching times at 5:00 p.m. for hearings). The council scheduled a budget workshop to begin at 4:00 p.m. on Aug. 12, to be followed by the regular meeting and additional workshops as needed. Why it matters: the millage rate determines property tax revenue used to fund city services; the rate choice frames budget preparation and the public hearings required by state law. Next steps: staff will transmit the proposed millage rate to the property appraiser for TRIM notices, hold the public hearings in September and return to council for final budget adoption after public comment.